something / someone / somewhere

Adding ka to a question word makes it indefinite: nanika (something), dareka (someone), dokoka (somewhere). The particles ga and wo are often dropped after these words. Use them in both statements and questions.

Examples

• 何なにか食たべましたか。

  Nanika tabemashita ka.

  Did you eat something?

• 部屋へやにだれかいますか。

  Heya ni dareka imasu ka.

  Is there someone in the room?

Vocabulary in these examples

• 何 what
• 食べる to eat
• 部屋 room
• いる to exist (animate); to be

Related patterns · Question words

• 何（なん / なに） what
• だれ / どなた who
• どこ where
• いつ when
• いくら how much (price)
• どう / いかが how; how about